A bus driver, bus operator or omnibus driver is a person who drives buses as their career. In many jurisdictions, bus drivers must have a special licence above and beyond a regular driver's licence. Bus drivers typically drive their vehicles between bus stations or stops. Bus drivers often drop off and pick up passengers on a predetermined route schedule. In British English a different term, coach driver (or coach captain), is used for drivers on long-distance routes, tours and school trips.

There are various types of bus drivers, including transit drivers, school bus drivers and tour bus drivers. Bus drivers may work for city, public (state and national/federal) governments, school boards, and private enterprises, such as charter companies which run tour buses. Coach captains in Australia are frequently freelancesub-contractors who work for various bus and coach companies.

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As of 2010, there are approximately 650,000 U.S. employed bus drivers.[1] One of the most common jobs in the United States for a bus driver is to work for a public school, transporting students aboard a school bus to and from the school building. As of 2004, 71% of bus drivers in the U.S. were employed by schools.[citation needed] In other countries, school transport is often provided by the same companies that run other bus services in the area, so school bus driver is not a separate position.

In the United States, finding a position as a bus driver usually requires that the individual possess a commercial driver's license (CDL) and specialized training for the vehicle. Various other educational and vocational training may be required, but this varies from place to place. Bus drivers also need to possess social skills for interacting with their passengers, which is a daily occurrence.

In the United Kingdom drivers must have passed the Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) practical driving and theory test. PCV drivers also have to possess a Certificate of Professional Qualification card which requires extra training to be taken. Service bus drivers in the UK are not subject to the working hours restrictions devised by the European Union if their journeys do not exceed 50 miles radius, but are governed by less stringent UK Drivers' Hours Regulations. For example, a service bus driver may drive for 5.5 hours without a break in the UK.[2]

People with certain medical conditions are excluded from becoming bus drivers. Some of these conditions include Migraine (if it affects vision), Alcoholism and Epilepsy.[3]

Traditionally, before the introduction of one-man buses on many city routes, the bus driver had no contact with the passengers, the tickets being sold by a bus conductor. Now, drivers have the additional responsibility of selling tickets, keeping to the timetable and providing customer service.

Because of the additional workload many buses are fitted with closed-circuit television in an attempt to protect drivers from an increasing number of attacks which has resulted in a recruitment crisis in some British cities. [1]

Bus drivers often come to the role from previous careers. Of course some bus drivers go on to do other things, Matt Monro for instance, whilst actor Robert Carlyle learned to drive a bus and successfully passed the test for his role as a bus driver in the film "Carla's Song". Cliff Richard learned to drive a bus for the film Summer Holiday. [2]

Despite the fact that driving a bus requires qualifications, skill, patience, the need to work very antisocial hours and, above all, responsibility for the safety of the passengers, in the UK bus drivers have been traditionally very poorly paid, in many cases earning little over the minimum wage.

In Australia, bus and coach drivers need a Drivers Licence (issued in an Australian state or territory) in the class of vehicle they can drive.

Additionally, they are required to possess a Drivers Authorisation (also issued by the state or territory). The Drivers Authorisation entails a regular review of driving history, criminal history, and medical assessment (for fitness to drive).

In 2012, Australia had a fleet of 90,599 buses[4] and collectively travelled about 2.0 billion km. The average age of the national fleet is 11.0 years.[5]

In 2011, there were 40,900 bus and coach drivers employed in the industry. They work an average of 41.7 hours/week and the average age is 54 years. The main employing industries are Transport, Postal and Warehousing 87.4%, and the remainder include Health Care and Social Assistance 4%, Education and Training 3.1%, and Accommodation and Food Services 2.7% [6]